Archives of gerontology and geriatrics
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Arch Gerontol Geriatr · Sep 2013
Review Meta AnalysisAssessment of people with cognitive impairment and hip fracture: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
This study systematically assesses the literature pertaining to the diagnostic test accuracy of assessment instruments to evaluate patients following hip fracture surgery who present with cognitive impairment. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed. Studies assessing the reliability, validity, sensitivity or specificity of assessment tools for patients following hip fracture who were cognitively impaired were included. ⋯ To conclude, there is a paucity of literature assessing the reliability, validity and diagnostic test accuracy of instruments to assess people with cognitive impairment following hip fracture surgery. Based on the current available data, delirium may be best assessed using the NEECHAM Confusion Scale or DRS-R-98. Pain is most accurately evaluated using the FACS.
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Arch Gerontol Geriatr · Sep 2013
Psychometric properties concerning four instruments measuring job satisfaction, strain, and stress of conscience in a residential care context.
There are many instruments assessing the wellbeing of staff, but far from all have been psychometrically investigated. When evaluating supportive interventions directed toward nurse assistants in residential care, valid and reliable instruments are needed in order to detect possible changes. The aim of the study was to investigate validity in terms of data quality, construct validity, convergent and divergent validity and reliability in terms of the internal consistency and stability of the Job Satisfaction Questionnaire, the Psychosocial Aspects of Job Satisfaction, the Strain in Dementia Care Scale (SDCS), and the Stress of Conscience Questionnaire (SCQ) in a residential care context. ⋯ However, it should be modified in order to reduce floor effects on item level and thereby gain sensitivity. The Job Satisfaction Questionnaire seemed to have problems both with the construct validity and test-retest reliability. The final choice of instrument must, however, be made dependent on what one intends to measure.
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Arch Gerontol Geriatr · May 2013
Comparative StudyComprehensive geriatric assessment can predict postoperative morbidity and mortality in elderly patients undergoing elective surgery.
The proportion of elderly patients who undergo surgery has rapidly increased; however, clinical indicators predicting outcomes are limited. Our aim was to evaluate the significance of comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) in elderly patients undergoing elective surgery. We studied 141 consecutive elderly patients (age: 78.0±6.5 years old, male: 41.1%) who were referred to our geriatric department for surgical risk evaluation. ⋯ The cumulative number of impairments in the CGA domain was significantly associated with adverse outcomes, in-hospital events, and prolonged hospital stays. In multiple logistic regression analysis, cumulative impairment in CGA was independently associated with surgical outcomes in elderly patients undergoing elective surgery. Preoperative CGA can identify elderly patients at greater risk for mortality, post-discharge institutionalization, adverse in-hospital events, and prolonged length of hospital stay.
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Arch Gerontol Geriatr · Mar 2013
Comparative StudyScreening of frailty in elderly patients with disability by the means of Marigliano-Cacciafesta polypathology scale (MCPS) and Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA) scales.
Frailty is an age-related condition, characterized by a decreased homeostatic reserve and increased vulnerability to stressful events, with high risk of adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare the evaluation of the frailty by the means of the MCPS and the Rockwood criteria. We enrolled 98 patients (mean age ± standard deviation, m ± SD, 80.7 ± 7.0 years) and 20 controls (82.7 ± 3.4 ys), who attended our outpatient clinic for the evaluation of disability and the renewal of driving license, respectively. ⋯ In conclusion, the frail patient may be a carrier of multiple chronic pathologies and/or of physical/cognitive decline. The frail patient has to be considered the elective geriatric patient, characterized by a continuous multidimensional care requirement. MCPS is an useful tool for the frailty screening and to set up a tailored program of geriatric rehabilitation, in order to prevent or reduce the development of frailty-related complications.
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Arch Gerontol Geriatr · Jan 2013
Musculoskeletal pain and its treatment among older home-dwelling people: ten-year changes in two Finnish birth cohorts.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and the use of analgesics in two random cohorts of home-dwelling older people 10 years apart (1999 (N = 2044) and 2009 (N = 1610)) in Helsinki, Finland, and to explore which patients characteristics are associated with potential undertreatment or overtreatment of pain. In 1999, the prevalence of daily joint pain interfering with functioning was 16.4% and that of back pain 13.9% among 75-85-year-old people, the respective figures being 21.9% and 17.1% in 2009 (p < 0.001). The proportion of those patients suffering from joint pain and using prescribed analgesics for that was 35.5% in 1999 and 41.5% in 2009 (p < 0.001). ⋯ Among persons not reporting pain (N = 545) psychiatric symptoms were overrepresented in the group using prescribed analgesics (22.4% vs. 8.1%, p < 0.05). In conclusion, musculoskeletal pain is still clearly undertreated, but the coverage has increased during 10 years. In addition to pain, several patient characteristics, functioning and psychiatric symptoms, especially, were associated with analgesic prescriptions.